East to West, Global Home Design Takes Flight

With tables and chairs made of old hardwood, bar stools and bed frames fashioned from iron, and lamp shades stitched from rawhide and linen, Indus Design Imports aims to find a way to make the Old World look new again. The Tempe, Arizona-based importer and wholesaler frequently looks toward those familiar wellsprings of global inspiration: India, Pakistan and Indonesia, as well as China and other Far East countries.

The company is one of many reflecting influences from overseas sources -- both defining the trend and responding to interest.

“We’re trying to listen to our customers and give them what they really want,” said Trish McNamara, a design consultant for Indus Design Imports, adding that Northern Africa also lies within the company's field of vision. “A lot of our items have that Bohemian, well-traveled look ... like you just popped over Morocco,” she said.

International Trends Spotting

At the 800,000-square-foot Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market in January 2012, the enthusiasm for global designs was readily apparent in household items such as linens, coffee tables and dining room chairs.

Some buyers and vendors pointed to Western Europe as the current trendsetter, with an emphasis on traditional designs: dark woods, deep-hued leathers and lots of ornamental flourishes.

“Our owner gets ideas from the countries where he travels -- Italy, France, England,” said Jacqueline Moss of Michael Amini Designs.

As evidence of that influence, Amini’s showroom displayed intricately carved headboards and cedar-lined drawers, honey walnut armoires and sleigh beds, and fruitwood chests and drawers. The names of the home furnisher’s various collections -- Essex Manor Excelsior, Venetian II and Cortina, for example -- recall their Old World inspirations.

Other vendors noted renewed consumer interest in more traditional designs following years of prominence by contemporary concepts.

Customers “have been coming to us for that old European feel,” said Michael Boutross of Boutross Imports in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. “That’s been our specialty.”

Still other vendors reported preferences similar to those noted by Indus Design import's McNamara: India, China, Indonesia and Pakistan, to name a few.

“Most of the businesses have shifted their focus to the Far East, looking for trends there,” said Monica Rolle, a ceramics buyer from Italy's Tuscany region. “You can see that here at the show. There’s a swing in that direction.”

Richard Chan, co-founder and owner of Chicago-based Artmax Furniture, said his designs reflect tropical and Latin American themes, particularly from the countries of Mexico and Costa Rica. But he also noted that many buyers were looking for clean, simple and contemporary designs, which he considers an iconic American style.

“People aren’t looking for something traditional,” Chan said. “They want something contemporary. There’s a very strong feeling out there for that.”

Also gaining in popularity are items that come from developing countries in Africa, South America and Asia through the fair trade movement. The movement advocates for better social and environmental standards, along with higher prices for goods ranging from baskets and jewelry to sunglass holders.

“The movement has really picked up steam in the past two or three years,” said Stan Lounsbury, a buyer from Louisville, Kentucky. “Some buyers won’t even look at foreign goods if they don’t practice fair trade.”

Jan Syvertsen of the Leakey Collection, which is based in Kenya, said her company provides a living wage for the women who use fallen wood, grass and porcelain to create high-end beads, bracelets and necklaces. Buyer demand, Syvertsen said, had been high during the week-long market.

“People understand that sometimes it’s about more than price,” she said. “There’s a lot of ways to give back and still be a consumer. It’s good to see so many Americans are being more eco-friendly and aware of fair trade.”

Trend Report: Three Places Where Designers (& Buyers) Are Finding Inspiration in 2012

England: Items coming from here feature chocolate-colored woods, particularly fruitwood, and heavily ornamented designs. Chairs and tables from England are especially popular.

Italy: A honey walnut, Venetian-style end table or side table can add an Italian touch to either a living room or bedroom. These pieces are notable for their rich, dark wood and distinctive carved patterns.

Far East: Three- or four-panel dividers are a novel way to include an Asian-inspired design in almost any room. They work from both a practical standpoint and a purely aesthetic one.